MONTPELIER — The Capital City has been designated a bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists.

The city has been recognized with the “bronze level” achievement after an application was submitted by the city’s bicycle advisory committee. The award recognizes Montpelier’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investments in education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. Montpelier joins Burlington as the only Vermont cities to be recognized for such a distinction.

Mayor John Hollar and city officials joined a group of cyclists in front of City Hall for a ceremony Tuesday, which was followed by a parade of cyclists pedaling down State Street and finishing at the high school.

One of the City Council’s goals is for Montpelier to become “a nationally known bike- and pedestrian-friendly city,” according to a statement from the city. Since setting that goal, Montpelier has hosted a bike summit, formed a bicycle advisory committee and secured funding to develop a bicycle master plan. Designs are being finalized to extend the bike path from one end of Montpelier to the other, and bike lanes are being marked as city streets are repaved.